By Scott Waterman, VT Agency of Agriculture, Food & Markets
The Vermont Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets welcomes David Huber to an exciting new chapter in his career with the Agency as the Deputy Director of the Public Health & Agricultural Resource Management Division (PHARM). Dave has been the Agency’s Chief Policy Enforcement Officer for the past six years. In that capacity, Dave oversaw administrative enforcement for the Water Quality and PHARM Divisions. This involved working with Agency staff to identify and abate agricultural violations with the goal of keeping our state pollution-free and Vermonters safe. Ensuring that farmers and businesses were on the path to compliance was key to this position, and Dave was able to successfully assist the Agency of Natural Resources and the Attorney General’s Office when those entities had overlapping enforcement cases involving Vermont agriculture.
Dave moved to Vermont from Maryland in 2007 to pursue his passion for fishing and hiking, and also earned Master and Juris Doctor Degrees from Vermont Law School. Following school, Dave returned to Maryland to practice with the Office of the Attorney General’s Environmental Crimes Unit and then a small law firm specializing in environmental issues.
Missing the mountains and Vermont lifestyle, Dave came back to the Green Mountains and worked for various state entities, including the Office of Legislative Counsel, Department of Labor, and ultimately the Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets. An avid scuba diver and big-game fly fisherman, protecting the environment has always been Dave’s underlying goal and mission. This makes the transition from Enforcement to Deputy Director of PHARM a natural progression for him.
The PHARM Division manages the Apiary, Plant Health and Pest Management, Pesticide, Animal Feeds, Seed, Fertilizer & Lime, and Hemp Programs. In overseeing these laws, the Division is tasked with ensuring that farmers, businesses, government, and even homeowners are responsible stewards of the land. Whether it is putting on a training to identify invasive pests or monitoring pesticide applicator exams, the Division is here to educate and regulate the agricultural resource industry.
When not out in the field for work or fun, Dave can be found in West Berlin with his wife, daughter, and dog, Willo.